‘Children in danger’ as items from unsecured Blackburn home are found near property

RESIDENTS of a Blackburn street have hit out at the authorities for failing to take action after kitchen knives were left in the street in Waterloo Close.

The knives, along with children’s toys and other household objects, came from a property that had been vacated and left unsecured by the previous tenant.

Residents raised the alarm after young children were found playing with the knives in the street.

Neighbours said they called the police and Twin Valley housing association to report the issue, but although the house was secured by Twin Valley, nobody would take responsibility for removing the knives.

Julie, from Darwen, who was visiting a friend in the area, called the police and Twin Valley on Saturday evening.

She said: “They moved out Friday night and left all the doors and windows open.

“There were kids toys and knives everywhere outside.

“I saw a child of about five or six running round outside with a kitchen knife from the house.

“The place was a mess and it was dangerous.

“Me and three residents complained to Twin Valley, who said they wouldn’t come out.

“I called the police and they told me to call the council, or pick up the knives myself.

“It’s disgusting. What do we pay our council tax for if the police won’t come and help us?”

A police spokesman said: “We did have a call about this on Saturday and the housing association was called and advised to attend to deal as police deployment was not required.”

Ian Bell, head of Twin Valley Homes, said: “We had a call about a tenanted property on Waterloo Close being unsecured and we responded immediately to make it safe.

“Our joiner didn’t see any children or knives as reported but we wouldn’t encourage any of our staff to get themselves in a situation where they could be hurt.

“That would be an issue for the parents of the children or the police to deal with.”’

My goodness, what on earth has happened to common sense, knives have handles to facilitate for easy use and to prevent cutting oneself so why on earth did they not pick them up and drop them in a bin for safety. Some people want their arse's wiping for them.

Have these people any idea of the cost's involved in sending Police or Council staff to do the simple task of picking them up, and no, you don't pay council tax for this procedure because certain responsibilities stay within the community.

My goodness, what on earth has happened to common sense, knives have handles to facilitate for easy use and to prevent cutting oneself so why on earth did they not pick them up and drop them in a bin for safety. Some people want their arse's wiping for them.
Have these people any idea of the cost's involved in sending Police or Council staff to do the simple task of picking them up, and no, you don't pay council tax for this procedure because certain responsibilities stay within the community.alf-abett

useyourhead wrote:
why is everything, EVERYTHING, the responsibility of the police or council, jeez. no wonder there is no community left. So sad.
-
take the knives and put them in a bin. end of.

Spot on!

[quote][p][bold]useyourhead[/bold] wrote:
why is everything, EVERYTHING, the responsibility of the police or council, jeez. no wonder there is no community left. So sad.
-
take the knives and put them in a bin. end of.[/p][/quote]Spot on!Steven Seagull

A Darener wrote:
If people had picked up these knives and taken them on the street the police would probably have swarmed all over them and arrested them for carrying an offensive weapon.

I don't think so Darener.

To commit the offensive weapon offence you have to not be in a public place with said weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
I would suggest that taking them off young children so they didn't injure themselves or others would be likely to constitute a reasonable excuse.

[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote:
If people had picked up these knives and taken them on the street the police would probably have swarmed all over them and arrested them for carrying an offensive weapon.[/p][/quote]I don't think so Darener.
To commit the offensive weapon offence you have to not be in a public place with said weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
I would suggest that taking them off young children so they didn't injure themselves or others would be likely to constitute a reasonable excuse.Steven Seagull

It makes you wonder if the adults in the area are unable to use a knife as it is not hard to pick up the offending items by their handles and pop them in the recycling. Perhaps they are more used to consuming takeaway and other convenience food.

It makes you wonder if the adults in the area are unable to use a knife as it is not hard to pick up the offending items by their handles and pop them in the recycling. Perhaps they are more used to consuming takeaway and other convenience food.Malthus

Agree with a lot of what is said above. This is a news item because? Adults are unable to pick up knives etc and put them out of reach of children? It would never have occurred to me to ring either the police or the housing association about the knives etc. I would have disposed of them sensibly and thought no more about it. Securing the proprty yes, that needs to be attended to, but complaining about the rest just seems like someone after their fifteen minutes of fame.....

Agree with a lot of what is said above. This is a news item because? Adults are unable to pick up knives etc and put them out of reach of children? It would never have occurred to me to ring either the police or the housing association about the knives etc. I would have disposed of them sensibly and thought no more about it. Securing the proprty yes, that needs to be attended to, but complaining about the rest just seems like someone after their fifteen minutes of fame.....ladysal